[hajossy]

Does anyone know where I can get a hold of some RS4 replicas, with the correct offset for the A5. The best option I THOUGHT I had found (for a decent price) was at the following:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93768&highlight=b7+rs4+reps

The quality looked brilliant and the price was great. The problem is that once I called them to find out whether they shipped to South America, they said they didn´t have these available for the A5. I was so dissapointed! I was already going for my checkbook.

The reason for my wanting to buy low cost replicas is that the roads here are in pretty bad shape. This is why I ordered the 18"s with the car in the first place.

I want to buy a set of "expendable" 20 inch wheels to use for a while. They are obviously gonna end up damaged within a year or so. Doesn´t matter... It´ll be worth it.

Hope that somebody can help.

 

[avus777]

Hajossy, I've been on the same quest for the last month or so but so far nothing. As you point out, the offset has to be correct, and also someone added that the bore is unique to the A5 and not the 72.6 inch typical of other Audi models. Hope someone's got better insight.....

 

[Ianhp1]

Try spacers...

As I recall, the offsets on the S5 are 32mm. The offsets on this wheel are 38mm. Therefore, to maintain the 'backspace' (distance from hub face to the inner edge of the rim) you will require 6mm spacers.

you will get away with 5mm spacers to maintain the look as stock, but you could go up to 20mm spacers per wheel to make it look more aggressive... (like the pic on my profile).

Not sure about the bore though...

Before you order however, get the supplier to specify the required spacers and do the calculations themselves (get this on an email). Then if there's any problems, you can return the wheels.

 

[TXcarguy]

Center bore size on the A5/S5 is 66.5mm, whereas for most other Audi models it's 57.1mm. So, when ordering wheels, ensure you're getting the correct size center bore.

 

[hajossy]

Center bore size on the A5/S5 is 66.5mm, whereas for most other Audi models it's 57.1mm. So, when ordering wheels, ensure you're getting the correct size center bore.

Avus777,

I think that TXcarguy can give us some hope.

TXcarguy, I have seen that you posted some pictures of a Suzuka Grey S5 with the RS4 20" replicas.

http://www.a5oc.com/forums/showthread.php/suzuka-gray-s5-2809/index.html

Do you by any chance know whose car it is. Is he a member of the forum? I would like to get in touch with him to find out where he bought them, how much he shelled out for them, and whether he had to carry out some mods before getting the job done.

Ianhp1, I have heard that putting spacers aren´t that good of a choice, given that the suspension suffers. Hopefully, this guy didn´t have to undergo any serious mods.

 

[TXcarguy]

hajossy,

Actually those are not replica wheels. They are original Audi wheels available for order on the A5/S5 in certain markets (Germany being one of them). If you go to the Audi.de site and check out the configurator, you'll find that those wheels appear in the list of wheel choices. So, no mods necessary... they're made to fit the car already. Have your dealer's Parts department check to see if they can get them for you. They may not be able to, though, since only certain markets have them. Then again, you may not want them after you find out the price... I doubt you'll consider them to be "expendable" if they're original Audi wheels at Audi prices. Good luck.

BTW, the owner of that Suzuka Grey S5 is from a German forum. I just happened to stumble upon the pics.

FYI, here's another thread with more pics and info about those wheels.

 

[hajossy]

Woops. Would´ve thought they were replicas. I guess I´m gonna have to keep looking. Being this said, thank you anyway. There´s not a snowball´s chance in hell I´m gonna pay 10 g´s for the originals. I will be posting a reply as soon as a I get a confirmation on some good and economic rs4 20"s.

 

[Ianhp1]

...without spacers, the backspace is increased by 6mm with the spec of wheels shown (by my calcs) and I think you run the risk of fouling. Make sure you check with the supplier.

Spacers are not as good as having wheels with the right offset, but the small amounts we are talking about will not harm the car at all.

 

[hajossy]

Since it is obvious that I am going to have a hard time getting a hold of the RS4 20", I thought that I should take it down a notch. I wrote to the people at VMR wheels to find out about the 19"s. I asked about the bore and offset. This is the reply I got, which to be honest, I don´t quite understand. Could somebody give me a hand understanding the mods he´s talking about.

****************
Hi Christian,

We can ship anywhere you wish. As far as payment goes for international customers, we only accept Bank Wire Transfer. As for fitment, you are correct. Your car does have a larger center bore and lower offset. Unforunately we do not offer a fitment for an A5. What you can do is bore out the centers and use a 6-8mm hub centric spacer with longer wheel lug bolts for them to sit correctly and flush. 19" V708's are $799 for HS, or GM, Onyx finish is $899. Please let me know what you would like to do.

Thanks,

[email protected]
****************

What do you guys think about the prices? I don´t know if he´s talking about a price per wheel or if he gave me the price for the whole set, since in a post at Audizine (year 2006), a VMR representative talks about US $249 per wheel (onyx black). Have they skyrocketed as I am afraid they have?

 

[avus777]

In effect they are saying you have to have a shop make the center bore bigger (from 57.1 to 66.5 mm) by machining it and then you have to use spacers to give you the right offset. Too much trouble and room for error if you ask me.....
I'm considering the 20 in. S5 replica from Hartman but holding out for an on-the-car picture.

 

[hajossy]

I was thinking on those as well. Considering it´s going to be such a hassle to correctly install the RS4 replicas, I guess that the S5´s are an interesting option.

Now that you mention these rims, I recall reading somewhere in the forum that the Hartman S5´s have a problem when trying to put the original hubcaps. Apparently they don´t quite fit. You would be forced to use the Hartman ones.

Do you know anything about this?

 

[ccompton]

I was thinking on those as well. Considering it´s going to be such a hassle to correctly install the RS4 replicas, I guess that the S5´s are an interesting option.

Now that you mention these rims, I recall reading somewhere in the forum that the Hartman S5´s have a problem when trying to put the original hubcaps. Apparently they don´t quite fit. You would be forced to use the Hartman ones.

Do you know anything about this?

Hi hajossy,

You are correct about the center cap on the Hartmann S5 wheels, the stock center caps do not fit the Hartmann wheels. So for now, the only option is to use the "Achtuning" caps; the guys at Achtuning/Hartmann are working on a mod to allow for adding Audi emblems to the Achtuning caps but they didn't give me a time frame for when they were going to have it.

Personally, I think they made a big mistake in not supporting the stock caps, that will make some people think twice about buying. (FYI, there are generally a few S5 & A5 wheel sets in the group-buy section -- including mine, which are cheaper than the Hartmann replicas).

Good luck with your decision.